IndiGo cancels 550 flights amid crew shortage; Rahul Gandhi says, “Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who pay the price”

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled more than 550 flights on December 4, 2025, its highest cancellation count in two decades, after crew shortages triggered by newly enforced pilot rest regulations led to widespread operational breakdown across major airports.

Cause of disruption 

The disruption stemmed from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, originally introduced in January 2024 but formally enforced as of November 1, 2025. 

Aimed at reducing pilot fatigue, the new norms significantly expand mandatory rest periods and restrict night operations. 

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The FDTL crew requirements

• Key requirements include 48 hours of weekly rest (up from 36), a longer night duty window from 00:00 to 06:00, 

• A limit of two night landings per week per pilot, and a cap of eight flying hours during night operations.

For IndiGo, which commands roughly 60% of India's domestic aviation market, this sudden tightening of duty schedules translated into an immediate crew shortfall. Airports in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai witnessed some of the worst chaos. Bengaluru alone saw 102 cancellations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded overnight.

Passengers Suffer

A Hyderabad traveller described the situation saying:“They kept saying ‘just two more hours’ for 12 hours straight. No hotel, no food, nothing.”

Another passenger in Bengaluru reported waiting over 12 hours at the terminal before their flight was eventually cancelled.

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Political reaction 

Political reactions also poured in. 

Opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi commented,“Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who pay the price - in delays, cancellations and helplessness.”

Statement by Indigo 

IndiGo issued a formal public apology, acknowledging the scale of the disruption. 

In an official statement, the airline said:“The last two days have seen widespread disruption across IndiGo’s network and operations. We extend a heartfelt apology to all our customers and industry stakeholders who have been impacted by these events. 

Indigo highlighter a plan of action saying: “IndiGo teams are working diligently and making all efforts with the support of MOCA, DGCA, BCAS, AAI and airport operators to reduce the cascading impact of these delays and restore normalcy.”

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